New Panniers by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr

You need a Rear Rack to hang you Panniers on... Now, I have the most gigantic Panniers in the whole town... I carry a Shovel, with the handle sticking out, and I clean the Sidewalks... Everyone thinks I work for the County, but I'm really only a Volunteer...

I use a Ladies Bike, because the Panniers might get overloaded, and I don't want to swing my leg over it...

New Panniers by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr

New Panniers by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr

Panniers are the way to go. This Pannier Design gives as much volume as an Xtracycle™. The Coroplast™ is of the 6mm (six millimeter) thickness.

I tell you a funny story... I was explaining my invention to someone I met, and he didn't quite get the picture, so he asked "Is it Bigger than a Bread-Box? "...
I said "Sir, it IS a Bread-Box." LOL

The word Pannier is French for "Bread Box".

Kind of early to declare a "post of the year" but this is definitely a contender.

Strange, my Ortliebs (Sportspacker Plus) do just fine on my Tubus Cargo rack.

Don't load any bag 'up high' to heavy or your balance will suffer. Oh, yes.......tie/strap a bag on..no. Bolt a bag on ..yes. Harder for a thief to steal.

re: "What is riding with a rear rack like?" since I was a kid all my "10-speeds" aka "road bikes" have had rear racks. I can't imagine going for a ride without carrying something with me. The older racks had a spring clip so you didn't have to fuss with a bungee cord etc. Now I have a small rack trunk for most every ride except when we do family rides to the beach or wifey and I do a day on the bikes. Then one of more of us use a larger trunk. Anyway, I find them very convenient and easy to use. I do have to fight the tendency to carry more than I need, just because I can. So, I often do a re-think of the trunk contents. All the bikes in our family have rear racks. To us, it's like a reflector or a bottle holder. To the OP, try one and see how you like it. You can always take it off and sell it or gift it to another cyclist.

LOL....Thanks. Lately, I have been the only one commuting in, so I guess it is the coolest.

https://www.bikebagshop.com/banjo-br...ag-p-2633.html

Anyone have the Banjo Bros Minnehaha bag? I was thinking of getting one

A rack will increase the utility function of your ride exponentially! A properly installed rack will not be noticed while riding, until you need to use it, and then you will be happy it is there. Panniers offer a more stable ride for heavier items, as the weight is distributed lower to the ground. But the rack top can be very useful for tying down bulky items, as well.

I don't have a rear rack. I'm not a fan of racks in general. It's my opinion that they change the look of a bike too much from sporty to casual. But when I saw the Loading Dock from Portland Design Works it makes me want to have one:

It's like riding without a rear rack, except when you want to carry something. Then it's like magic.

I don't think I even rode my last two bikes without a rack. There's still one bike in the house without a rack, but that's just because I packed it in a suitcase, and the rack wouldn't fit. It will soon be back on. Last time I bought a bike from the store, I picked out a rack the same time I picked out the bike. I think it increases the utility of the bike incredibly. I know there are saddle bags, backpacks, and other ways to carry your gear, but unless you spend a lot of time worrying about lowering the bike weight as much as possible and being as fast as you can be, then a rack seems like the default set-up to me.

yeah that's classy, and the color would accent my Brooks saddle nicely. but you know what? since I always ride with a trunk, I'd never see that nice wood anyway

They're good bags. I used a small one as a tool bag for a while. Now I just stick my tools in my backpack that I'm already carrying. I tried to dye the brown straps black with, at best, indifferent results. The waxed leather didn't take shoe dye very well.

I will echo that racks are awesome! I have them on all my bikes (I don't own a racing bike).

This one is great if it fits your bike (it has a limited range of fit) It's inexpensive, lightweight, has a built in light mount and has a ton of attachment points

Blackburn TRX-1 Ultimate Touring Rack

I've had a rear rack on my beloved Fuji almost continuously since the mid '70s.



Yes, that is the ubiquitous Pletscher el-cheapo rack that was sold in discount stores. The spring-loaded 'rat trap' makes carrying rolled-up spare shirt a breeze. That orange thing zip tied to the back is a USCG-approved life vest strobe the Zenon strobe flashing 60-90 times a minute through a yellow lens is VERY visible.

Anyway, I've carried all sorts of stuff on that rack - and have a 'trunk bag' that velcros to it, and I have a set of old-school Cannondale panniers (yes, the proper rear ones with the cutaway to avoid heel strikes. AND a vintage Cannondale 'Toot' 5" dia x 8" long seat bag. I've ridden that bike tens of thousands of miles with stuff on the rack. It has never failed me.

I just learned to ride a bike, so I don't know what it's like to ride without a rack.

I did have to adjust though once I put panniers on the rack. I kicked them a couple of times with my heels, but after adjusting my foot placement on the pedals, I wasn't kicking them constantly or anything like that. I'll probably go grocery shopping on my bike for the first time this weekend, so I'll experience for the first time what it feels like to ride with some stuff loaded in the panniers.

Why not have a rack and a trunk pack to carry enough stuff that will insure you dont have to walk home? Of course if your are a professional rider and have a sag team following you, a rack with tubes, pumps etc are not necessary.

I have my trunk pack on my rack. It is my mini bike shop. It still amazes me how many people ride without anything. Countless times I have stopped to help people that carry nothing. But then are they the smart ones, knowing or hoping someone well equipt will come along and bail them out of their problem?

Riding with rear racks is noticeable for me. I use them on a few bikes but..the handling does change, the bike's acceleration does lag considering the weight, if you do any sprints or hammering up hills you'll feel that rack mass when swinging side to side, if your panniers stick out you'll feel the wind drag. Obviously, that's all fairly irrelevant getting from point A to point B. Still, from my experience I'd say be cautious about weight and position. I've gone to using the lightest racks and minimal bags, and I like the weight down low.

Less is more. Using a Tubus Fly or Evo is like no rack at all.

But the rack won't be visible under the panniers anyway...

Went on the grocery run today with my bike and panniers. I didn't notice a difference. I have just under one month's experience riding a bike, so I suck at riding regardless of whether I have a loaded rack anyway.

I bought a family size pack of chicken drumsticks, couple of bags of frozen veggies, a 3L box of wine, and a bag of onions. Not a super heavy load of groceries, but not feather-light either. I have to climb a hill to get home and the climb is hard enough for me without a load that it didn't matter whether or not the groceries were on my bike. I also managed to not kick my panniers even once.

I have a rear rack on my Schwinn. It was made by Wald and I want to say it cost about $25 shipped. I bought a bag that was supposed to be a fishing tackle box that fits the rack well and glued (with some industrial spray adhesive) some Velcro straps onto the bag. The bag was probably another $20. I also bought an elastic cargo net that works with the rack pretty well.

Inside the bag I keep 2 bottles of water, a small first aid kit, a tube repair kit, a tube, a few tools, a small cable and lock, and a frame mount tire pump. The bag has a purse strap, so I can bring it in with me if I feel the need.

I put the rack on shortly after I bought the bike so I don't really know how much it affects my ride.

J White

A bike without a rear rack would be just weird, wouldn't it? (Rear racks on 2 of my 3 recumbents)
Arkel Tailrider is our constant companion on tandem rides, and we have the option of panniers, too.

I hear ya. I don't use panniers though. And with this beautiful rack I wouldn't want to cover it.

That's pretty. I could see why someone would buy it and use it just as a visual ornament (not hanging panniers off of it or putting a trunk on top).

The wood would be visible with my Ortlieb panniers, because they would be on the sides, not on top.